Folding leg



y 1951 v A. D. SHEFFER 2,558,915

FOLDING LEG BRACKET HINGE Filed Aug. 26, 194'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1951 A. D SHEFFER FOLDING LEG BRACKET HINGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1947 FIG. I2

Mar

Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING LEG BRACKET HINGE Andrew D. Shefler, Brighton, Mich.

Application August 26, 1947, Serial No. 770,633

2 Claims.

This invention relates to pivotal mounting hinge means for folding legs and the like, and more particularly to folding leg hinges for securement to the corners of articles of furniture and other structures which are supported on legs.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hinge means for folding legs which is very simple in construction, easy to install, and providing a firm supporting cooperation of the legs with respect to the article to which they are attached.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved folding leg hinge which is inexpensive to manufacture, neat in appearance and sturdy in construction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge device for attaching folding legs to articles such as tables and the like, said hinge device allowing the legs to be easily folded into compact relation with the article to which they are attached and providing a very steady and secure support for the article when they are unfolded.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank employed to form a corner hinge bracket for a folding leg in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a corner hinge bracket formed from the blank of Figure 1, shown attached to a leg.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a corner hinge bracket according to the present invention formed as a casting.

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a double leg hinge bracket constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 9 is a view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line Ill-l0. of Figure 8.

. Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the double. leg hinge bracket of Figures 8, 9 and 10 Figure 13 is an elevation view of a corner hinge bracket generally similar to that shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 but involving a modification thereof.

Figure 14 is a view taken on line I l-l4 of Figure 13.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to.4, l l designates a generally circular sheet metal blank which is radially cut, as shown at I 2 and is adapted to be folded at respective radial lines l3, l4 and I5 to form the corner angle member shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The sectors of the blank are designated respectively at l6, l1, l8 and I9. Sector I6 is formed with a U-shaped slit at 20 to define a rectangular tab 2 I, said tab being folded at right angles to the sector on line 22. Sector IT is formed with a U-shaped slit at 23 to define another tab 24, said tab 24 being bent at right angles to sector ll on line 25. Sector I! is notched at 26 to provide clearance for tab 2| when the blank is folded so that the sector I! underlies the sector l6 when the corner angle member is formed as above described.

Sector I9 is formed with an arcuate slot 21 having a straight end portion 28 angled radially inwardly of the blank with respect to the arcuate portion which is substantially concentric to the axis of the blank.

When the blank is folded on the crease lines l3, l4 and [5, as above described, side sector is is at a right angle to side sector [8, and sectors l8 and I9 are downwardly and outwardly inclined with respect tohorizontal top sector I6, said top sector being rigidly secured by any suitable means to the underlying sector l1. When the elements are thus secured, tab 2|, tab 24, sector 19 and sector I8 define a generally rectangular downwardly and outwardly-directed socket at the corner of the device in which the top end of a leg 29 is adapted to be received when said leg is in the upstanding position shown in broken lines in Figure 2. Passing through the upper portion of leg 29 is a headed bolt 39 which passes slidably through slot 21. Threaded on the end of bolt 30 is a wing nut 3| adapted to lockhthe leg 29 in an adjusted position with respect to the corner bracket device.

The bracket device is formed with suitable apertures, such as shown at 32 for securing said device by means of suitable fastening means to the corner of a table or other article. Figure 12 illustrates the use of the corner brackets at the four corners of a table. As shown in Figure 12, the legs 29 may be swung to parallel inwardly adjacent positions with respect to the-skirtportions 33 "of the table and locked in said inward positions by means of the wing nuts 31. To set up the table, the wing nuts are loosened and the legs are swung outwardly until they reach abut-e ting positions against the respective corners formed by the sectors 19 and I8. Theb'o'lts 311 are then in alignment with the straight slot portions 28, allowing the inner ends of the legs to be moved upwardly into seated positions in the rectangular enclosures defined by tabs 2| and 24 and the corners between sectors 1'9 "and 18. By tightening the wing nuts 3| the legs may be rigidly locked in said seated positions. Due to the downwardly flaring relation of the legs, afiorded by the downwardly and outwardly inclined directions of sectors t9 and [8 the final configuration of the legs provides a high degree the ends of the slot toward and terminating at a point spaced from :the horizontally disposed plate '31, and an arcuateporti'on extendingtransversely from the intermediate point toward and terminating'at a-point spaced from the free side edge of the vertically disposed plate 36. The slot is adapted to receive -a-hinge pin 30 carried by the leg 29 whereby travel of the hinge pin 29 from the terminating end of the arcuate portion of the slot 21 toward the terminating end of the straight portion thereof results in the leg 29 being shifted from a collapsed position to an extended position. Depending from the horizontally disposed plate 31 is a rightangled rib 38, including two tabs, 'each of the tabs being disposed transversely of the'adja'cent one of the vertically disposed plates and -in spaced relation with respect to the other one of the vertically disposed plates and defining with the adjacent portions of the vertically disposed plates the socket for receiving the top end of the leg 29. Suitable openings 3? are formed in the horizontally disposed plate 31 and in the vertically "disposed plates "35 and 36 for securing the corner bracket to the corner portion (if a table or other article to be supported. I As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the 'slot and its straight portion 28 may be counterbored at the outer surface of a side flange 36', as shown at 40, to provide clearance for th'e'head'of bolt 36 when the bracket is secured inside the corner formed by a table top,'or other article to be supported, and the depending skirts or aprons carried at the margins of the articles, in the manner disclosed in Figure 12. Also, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, the side flanges 36' and of the bracket are right angularly disposed to each other and to the top wall 31. However, flanges 36' and have inner surfaces which are downwardly and outwardly tapered in thickness to allow the legs 29 to flare downwardly when the table or other article is set up and to still provide a right angled corner configuration to closely fit into the corner of the article formed by its top and its depending side skirts.

The arcuate slot 21 and 'straightportion 23 may be providedin either of the two side flanges of the bracket so that either right or left hand brackets may be formed.

-In the embodiment of Figures 8 to 11, a double bracket 41 is illustrated, for securement to a bench top 1-2, -a trestle, or other relatively narrow article, -to be supported at its ends. The bracket 4| is formed with a top 43, an end flange di and side flanges and 46. Each of the side flanges 45 and 46 is formed with an arcuate slot 21 having the aforementioned straight end portion 28ja'nd the top 4615 formed with depending right-angled 'ribs' ll, 41 defining sockets for the top ends of the legs 29 at the corners of the bracket. The bench *top 42 is secured to the top 43 of a double corner bracket M at each end of the bench. The legs 29 are foldable to po'sltions-parallel to the side edges of the bench in the same manner as described in connection with the preceding embodiments of the invention. The respective flanges '44, '45 and "46 are in downwardly flaring relation with respect to the top 33, allowing the'corner le'gs29 to be in similarly flared relation when the article is set up and thereby providing a high degree of stability for re article.

While certain specific "embodiments of hinge brackets for folding legs have been disclosed in the foregoing desoriptiomit'will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may 'occur to those skill'ed'in *the art. Therefore it is intendedthat no limitations be placed on'the inventionother than as defined by the scope of the appended-claims.

Wha'tis claimed is:

1. A folding leg bracket *hinge comprising a horizontally disposed plate, "a first vertically disposed plate arranged along and secured to one side edge of said plate, a second verti'callydisposed plate arranged along "and secured to one end edge of said horizontally disposed plate, a first tab arranged in parallel spaced relationwith respect to'said firs't vertically'disposed'lplate ahd dependingly carried*bysaidhori zontally disposed plate, and a second tab arranged in parallel spaced'relation with-respect to said second'vertically disposed plate and. dependingly carried by said horizontally disposed plate, said tabs and the adjacent portions of said first and second verticallydisposed plates together forming a rectangular socket for e'rnbr-acingly "receiving one end of a table leg, one of said' vertieally disposed plates being provided with'a clos'ed slot for slidably receiving a hinge pin carried by the one end of saidtable leg, said slot fliclu'din'g a sti'ai'ght slot portion extending from a point intermediate the ends thereof toward a'nd tefmina'ting at a point spaced from said horizontally disposed plate and an arcuate slot po'r tion 'extendingfrofn said intermediate point toward andterminating at a point spaced from said horizontally disposed po'se'd plate arranged along and secured to one side edge of said plate, a second vertically disposed plate arranged along and secured to one end edge of said horizontally disposed plate, a first tab of a length shorter than said first vertically disposed plate arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to said first vertically disposed plate and dependingly carried by said horizontally disposed plate, and a second tab of a length shorter than said second vertically disposed plate arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to said second vertically disposed plate and dependingly carried by said horizontally disposed plate, said tabs being of equal length and with the adjacent portions of said first and second vertically disposed plates forming a rectangular socket for embracingly receiving one end of a table leg, one of said vertically disposed plates being provided with a closed slot for slidably receiving a hinge pin carried by the one end of said table leg, said slot including a straight slot portion extending from a point intermediate the ends thereof toward and terminating at a point spaced from said horizontally disposed plate and an arcuate slot portion extending from said intermediate point toward and terminating at a point spaced fromsaid horizontally disposed plate.

ANDREW D. SHEFFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,908,858 OKane May 16, 1933 2,003,835 Mitchell June 4, 1935 2,117,239 Buechler May 10, 1938 2,202,318 Ralson May 28, 1940 2,227,871 Wigell Jan. 7, 1941 2,290,898 Spikings July 28, 1942 2,466,205 Burr Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,503 Australia Mar. 16, 1928 of 1927 

